Clasp



0. J. WARD May 30, 1939.

CLASP Filed May 25, 1937 awn/mar lNVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented May 30, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to clasps and more particularly to those employed in connection with supporting stockings or like articles of clothing.

One of the principal objects of my invention is 5 to provide means for reliably supporting a stocking or like articles of clothing in a desired position, which is highly efficient in use, economic-a1 in manufacture, and simple in operation.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claims, and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my invention as applied to a stocking.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation on an enlarged scale with some of the parts in section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 20 of Fi 2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section intermediate the longitudinal central line and the outer edge of the device showing the fabric gripping action of the cooperating frames.

My invention comprehends, in the preferred embodiment herein illustrated and described, a clasp 5 provided with a hinge or support member 6 having pivotally connected thereto inner and outer rectangular frames 1 and 8. The hinge 30 member 6 is connected by arms l5 of a suitable link 9 to a flexible strip or tape l suspended from an article of apparel (not shown).

The hinge member 6, preferably formed of sheet metal, is provided with folds II and I2 forming upper and lower openings l3 and M, respectively. The upper opening l3 receiving therethrough an arm l of the link 9. The frames 1 and 8, formed from comparatively stiif wire and constituting a gripping or clamping means, are provided with upper arms l8 and I9 respectively, said arms are secured within the opening M of the member 6 and are adapted to pivot therein. The frames are also provided with lower arms and 2| having registering offset sections 22 and 23 respectively, which receive and clamp therebetween the upper end 24 of a stocking 25.

In order to position a stocking between the sections 22 and 23, for securing the same thereto, the hinge member 6 is rocked outwardly (as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing) about the axis of one of the arms l5 of the link 9 causing the arm l8 of the frame I to move about the arm IQ of the frame 8; the axis of the lower arms 20 and 2| being maintained in vertical alignment with the axis of the free ends l3; thereby increasing the distance between the arms 2| and 22 and their respective offset sections 22 and 23. From this position, the inner frame 1 is moved outwardly away from the frame 8 (as shown in dotted lines of Fig. 4) and a stocking is inserted between the frames and their respective offset sections. The reverse operation, as herein described, is then resorted to, resulting in the stocking being securely clamped between the lower arms 20 and 2| and their offset sections 22 and 23. The frames are so arranged in relation to each other that mere clearance is had between the lower arms and offset sections, thus, when a stocking is inserted, it being of a thickness greater than said clearance, an efficient binding action will result to effectively clamp and secure the stocking between the frames and sections. Continued down drag of the stocking will further tend to urge the arms 20 and 2! together. The position of the stocking and associated parts of the clasp in clamped condition are clearly illustrated in Fig.3.

While I have illustrated and described the hinge member as being constructed of sheet metal and the frames formed of wire, it is to be understood that other suitable materials may be utilized.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that my invention may be used in connection with other articles other than stockings and that many changes in construction and modifications may be resorted to therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An apparel clasp comprising a support member and frames equipped with lower arms adapted to clamp an article of clothing therebetween, said frames pivotally connected to said member and disposed one within and entirely surrounded by the other to eifect nesting of said frames in parallel relation when said arms are in clamping position, said member movable to effect relative movement of said frames in any direction to release said article from between said arms, said frames when in nested condition serving to establish clamping relation between said arms.

2. An apparel clasp comprising a support member and frames equipped with lower arms adapted to clamp an article of clothing therebetween, said frames pivotally connected to said member and disposed one within and entirely surrounded by the other to effect nesting of said frames in parallel relation for clamping said artipermit one frame and the arm thereof to freely cle between said arms, the pivoting axes of said swing in any direction out of the other frame for frames arranged adjacent each other and in releasing said article from between said arms, parallelism within said member whereby pivotal said frames when in nested condition serving 5 movement of said member about said axes serves to establish clamping relation between said arms. 5

to rotate one of said axes about the other to ORAL J. WARD. 

